Tempted

Matthew 4:1-11

4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 

The early disciples of Jesus had a clear understanding of who they believed Jesus was and is. They understood Jesus to be the perfect and just Servant King, the perfect human being demonstrating authentic humanity and He was and remains the Redeeming Creator God. In all these realities of His life Jesus demonstrates, He reveals the Divine; Jesus reveals God to us in human form. Jesus is both God and Perfect Man. In the temptation narrative the unity of this human and divine expression is challenged. The accuser in the story, God’s ancient enemy the devil, the father of lies makes Jesus a series of offers to demonstrate who Jesus really is. Firstly he challenges Jesus to demonstrate He is the Creator God and make bread from stones; he challenges Jesus to: ‘give up on this humanity of yours!’, Who needs to be human? Secondly, he challenges Jesus to give up on His Divinity; you’re God and you can’t die. Come on, there is no way the Trinity is going to allow itself to experience death and brokenness. So let’s see the Divine die; let’s see your humanity Jesus; if you are truly one of them then die; but God won’t let you. Thirdly, Jesus is challenged as to the nature of His Kingship. You want to be a King? I’ll make you a King!  You can have it all Jesus, just give up on all this Divine humanity stuff and you can have whatever I can give you. ‘We can rule this lot together’, is the offer to Jesus the Divine Human from His enemy the Lord of the Flies. However, Jesus in His Divinity cannot be tempted, the Trinity by nature is Redeeming and Creative; in His humanity Jesus refuses the easy option to be deceived; authentic humanity is clear minded and voluntarily intentionally obedient.  In His Kingship Jesus cannot accept the exchange of His liberation Kingdom for any or all of the oppressive and violent kingdoms of this world. Jesus is the Prince of Peace; not the prince of this world. Jesus in His humanity is hungry for food but knows that humanity falls in the dessert place because of unbelief not a lack of bread provided by God. In His Divinity Jesus is hungry for a restored relationship with His creation and this hunger can only be satisfied through self-sacrifice not self-indulgence. In His Kingship Jesus hungers for a Kingdom of Faith, Hope and Love; and the greatest and summation of these is expressed as the Kingdom of Love. Tempted? Then let us put on the Lord Jesus Christ and be the people God created us to be renewed in the image of His Son; the perfect King, Human and Creator God. We can only achieve this through hearing the words of Jesus and putting them into practice. Read Matthew 4:1-11 again and hear again the words of Jesus.